We are pleased to announce the release of the first public beta of
SQL Compare 7.0. The two main additions to this version are support for SQL Server 2008 and the ability to compare database schemata taken directly from database backups. Further details about these additions are found below.
You can download the beta from:
ftp://ftp.red-gate.com/SQLCompareBeta/SQL_Compare_7.0_Beta_1.zip
We very much welcome your feedback on the SQL Compare 7.0 beta. This is your opportunity to help shape the next major version release of SQL Compare! Please post your feedback on the SQL Compare 7.0 beta forum, and we will be sure to take all your ideas into consideration over the coming weeks.
SQL Server backup files:
SQL Compare 7.0 Professional edition will be able to load the schema information from a backup file directly, without restoring the database backup. It will support both native SQL Server backups as well as Red Gate’s SQL Backup databases (including the encrypted and compressed backups). The current SQL Compare beta can read SQL Server 2000, 2005 and 2008 CTP6 backups (both native and Red Gate SQL Backup). Currently the only limitations we are aware of are the handling of users attached to a login which differs in name from the user’s name and page and row compression in SQL Server 2008. Note that like in trial modes, the beta gives you full access to features that will be available in the Professional edition only.
Support for SQL Server 2008:
This beta also contains support for SQL Server 2008 (based on CTP6). With SQL Compare 7.0 you can connect to a SQL Server 2008 database, and compare, script, and synchronise the database schemata.
Roadmap of SQL Compare 7.0:
•
Beta 1 – 27 March 2008 – introduces support for reading backup files. (Version information: 7.0.0.392 Installer & User Interface, 7.0.0.388 Engine)
•
Beta 2 – end of June 2008 – updated support for SQL Server 2008 based on the latest CTPs; Full support of SQL Server 2008 backups (including page and row compressions).
•
RC and RTM – Q3 2008 – fixes for issues found in previous releases and during the beta program
Installation
To install the beta please run SQL_Compare_7.0_Beta_1.exe and follow the onscreen instructions.
You will be able to use this beta until the 4th of July. If you have SQL Compare installed, you will be able to continue to use the two products in parallel. However, you should use a separate project folder to store the projects of SQL Compare 7.
Requirements
SQL Compare 7.0 requires Windows XP or above and .NET framework v 2.0.
Licensing
This software is pre-release and thus is not supported. We therefore recommend that you don’t run this beta on production systems. You are licensed to use this software in a capacity as a beta tester. This license to use SQL Compare 7.0 Beta lasts until July 4th 2008. After this date SQL Compare 7.0 beta will become non-functional.
Kind regards,
Andras
We have just released SQL Compare 7.0. I would like to thank you for all your comments. With your help we have improved SQL Compare even more, and have included features that we did not think about before, like the option to include use statements at the beginning of scripts.
You can download the beta from:
ftp://ftp.red-gate.com/SQLCompareBeta/SQL_Compare_7.0_Beta_1.zip
We very much welcome your feedback on the SQL Compare 7.0 beta. This is your opportunity to help shape the next major version release of SQL Compare! Please post your feedback on the SQL Compare 7.0 beta forum, and we will be sure to take all your ideas into consideration over the coming weeks.
SQL Server backup files:
SQL Compare 7.0 Professional edition will be able to load the schema information from a backup file directly, without restoring the database backup. It will support both native SQL Server backups as well as Red Gate’s SQL Backup databases (including the encrypted and compressed backups). The current SQL Compare beta can read SQL Server 2000, 2005 and 2008 CTP6 backups (both native and Red Gate SQL Backup). Currently the only limitations we are aware of are the handling of users attached to a login which differs in name from the user’s name and page and row compression in SQL Server 2008. Note that like in trial modes, the beta gives you full access to features that will be available in the Professional edition only.
Support for SQL Server 2008:
This beta also contains support for SQL Server 2008 (based on CTP6). With SQL Compare 7.0 you can connect to a SQL Server 2008 database, and compare, script, and synchronise the database schemata.
Roadmap of SQL Compare 7.0:
• Beta 1 – 27 March 2008 – introduces support for reading backup files. (Version information: 7.0.0.392 Installer & User Interface, 7.0.0.388 Engine)
• Beta 2 – end of June 2008 – updated support for SQL Server 2008 based on the latest CTPs; Full support of SQL Server 2008 backups (including page and row compressions).
• RC and RTM – Q3 2008 – fixes for issues found in previous releases and during the beta program
Installation
To install the beta please run SQL_Compare_7.0_Beta_1.exe and follow the onscreen instructions.
You will be able to use this beta until the 4th of July. If you have SQL Compare installed, you will be able to continue to use the two products in parallel. However, you should use a separate project folder to store the projects of SQL Compare 7.
Requirements
SQL Compare 7.0 requires Windows XP or above and .NET framework v 2.0.
Licensing
This software is pre-release and thus is not supported. We therefore recommend that you don’t run this beta on production systems. You are licensed to use this software in a capacity as a beta tester. This license to use SQL Compare 7.0 Beta lasts until July 4th 2008. After this date SQL Compare 7.0 beta will become non-functional.
Kind regards,
Andras